iPhone 18 Pro gets under-display Face ID in the screen corner
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max released this week feature a smaller Dynamic Island. Apple achieved this by moving the Face ID system’s infrared camera beneath the OLED display. However, initial tests revealed a side effect of this design: some screen protectors may interfere with facial recognition.
How Apple hid part of Face ID under the display
The infrared Face ID camera, which reads the dots projected onto the face, is now located under the display in its top-left corner. The remaining system components stay within the Dynamic Island area, allowing the cutout to be reduced by approximately 25%.
Apple has modified the structure of the OLED panel above the camera: some pixels have been removed, and transparent areas between the remaining ones now allow infrared light to pass through. To prevent this area from appearing darker than the rest of the screen, the remaining pixels operate at increased brightness. According to Dave2D’s observations, it is approximately twice as bright. Under normal use, the difference is barely noticeable, although the area above the sensor can be distinguished in some images.
The new camera placement introduces a minor caveat: if you cover the top-left corner of the display with your finger while unlocking, Face ID may fail to recognize your face. Apple also warns that this area must not be obstructed by a case, dirt, or an incompatible screen protector.
Matte films can interfere with Face ID
During testing of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Dave2D’s channel author discovered that Face ID stopped working properly after applying a matte protective film, while no such issue occurred with a clear protector. Since the infrared camera now reads light through the OLED panel, additional layers above the screen can affect its transmission, and a matte or textured surface can scatter infrared light.
However, the problem does not affect all accessories. In other tests, some matte finishes did not interfere with recognition, while privacy screen protectors reduced Face ID stability. Apple also recommends removing such protection if face recognition issues occur.
Meanwhile, privacy filter screen protectors have already appeared on the market, with manufacturers claiming compatibility with the new Face ID system. Therefore, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max owners should choose accessories where such compatibility is explicitly stated.
